Ontario Appeal Takes Raw Milk Fight to ‘next level,’ Says Farmer

Raw milk advocates want right to choose
Ontario Appeal Takes Raw Milk Fight to ‘next level,’ Says Farmer
Michael Schmidt (L) at his farm in Durham, Ontario. The Ontario government is appealing a court ruling that found Schmidt not guilty of violating the province's Milk Act. Glencolton Farms
Joan Delaney
Joan Delaney
Senior Editor, Canadian Edition
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<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/DSC03691-1_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/DSC03691-1_medium.jpg" alt="Michael Schmidt (L) at his farm in Durham, Ontario. The Ontario government is appealing a court ruling that found Schmidt not guilty of violating the province's Milk Act.  (Glencolton Farms)" title="Michael Schmidt (L) at his farm in Durham, Ontario. The Ontario government is appealing a court ruling that found Schmidt not guilty of violating the province's Milk Act.  (Glencolton Farms)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-100054"/></a>
Michael Schmidt (L) at his farm in Durham, Ontario. The Ontario government is appealing a court ruling that found Schmidt not guilty of violating the province's Milk Act.  (Glencolton Farms)
Raw milk crusader Michael Schmidt says the Ontario government is “clutching at straws” by appealing a court ruling that found him not guilty of violating the province’s Milk Act.

The Ministry of the Attorney General has confirmed it is appealing a decision by a justice of the peace on Jan. 21 to dismiss 19 charges against Schmidt related to selling and distributing raw milk and raw milk products.

Schmidt said the government is “underestimating the food freedom movement.”
“This is not about milk—this is about the respect for the individual’s right to make choices without government interference,” Schmidt said in a press release.

“This is now the next stage in a serious battle, a clear declaration by government to rob people of their fundamental freedoms.”

In late 2006, inspectors from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources along with several police officers raided Schmidt’s Glencolton Farms and confiscated his equipment, a computer, and documents.

Joan Delaney
Joan Delaney
Senior Editor, Canadian Edition
Joan Delaney is Senior Editor of the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times based in Toronto. She has been with The Epoch Times in various roles since 2004.